为刚果提供清洁水的战略, 富有想象力的回收和园艺建议, and an innovative “desk swop” concept were among the winning entries in this year’s recent 黑豹球场 competition. 普利茅斯州的流行版本 鲨鱼坦克 television series emphasizes the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship through a “big ideas” competition open to all students.
The competition is a premier project of the University’s chapter of Enactus, an international student organization committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need, and is also the culmination of months of planning by Professor Bonnie Bechard’s Event 市场营销 class. “The 黑豹球场 is now in its sixth year and students really showed off their creativity in so many ways,创行主席诺亚·菲斯克说道. “It also was a great opportunity to receive business guidance and network with top-level entrepreneurs.”
The 2021 黑豹球场 was dedicated to Professor Howard Frederick, who was a leader in entrepreneurship education before his untimely passing earlier this year. 在讨论这个领域的时候, 弗雷德里克说, “它现在正扩展到艺术领域, 科学, 设计, 几乎任何学科, and it’s drawing on cross-disciplinary 程序s with diverse missions. 任何有远见的人都可以创业.”
“Professor Frederick’s vision is manifest here tonight,唐纳德·比尔克斯总统在欢迎词中说. “We know that the 黑豹球场 can truly open doors for young entrepreneurs and set them up for success.”
的第一名, Howard Frederick Entrepreneurship Award was renamed in Professor Frederick’s honor this year and was shared by Samy Tshileu ’21 and Carmela Olmo ’23. 他们每人获得了1500美元的奖励.
Tshileu’s Clean Water for the Congo proposal is 设计ed to bring fresh water to his rural African 首页 village, where residents must currently travel a significant distance to access water from a compromised source. The two-part proposal includes the use of inexpensive sand filters to begin with while fundraising takes place to dig permanent deep wells.
Olmo’s Desk Swop envisions a free service that will improve the living conditions for off-campus students by more cost-effectively redistributing furnishings. The current local used furniture market would be better organized, improving the experience for both buyers and sellers by leveraging technology to provide more efficient market valuation and reduce waste.
Olmo’s Desk Swop and a Panther Bucks Recycling System proposal by Hannah Farley ’23, 卢卡斯·霍尔姆奎斯特，23年, Tarryn O ' brien ' 24, and Cooper Varano ’23 were tied for the Most Innovative and Creative Idea Award. Other award-winning proposals included 校园可食用U-Pick花园 by Dylan Perkins ’23 and a 学生老兵支持在线资源中心 by Dylan Freddo ’24, 杰茜·英格尔斯22岁, 亚历克·乔丹22岁, Cameron Lent ' 23, 布兰登，23年的吗哪.
学生老兵支持在线资源中心 
校园可食用U-Pick花园 
Olmo’s Desk Swop and a Panther Bucks Recycling System
The event featured accomplished speakers who shared their experiences and insights with a standing-room-only crowd of receptive students.
演讲者包括:
- 彼得·鲍尔, Mimecast首席执行官, a firm he co-founded in 2003 and which today employs almost 2,000人, 包括PSU校友, 在七个国家设有办事处. Bauer is the visionary behind Mimecast’s product and SaaS platform strategy, which focuses on reducing risk and making e-mail safer for business.
- Ryan Chadwick ' 00, Fathom Brands创始人. His entrepreneurial portfolio includes innovating the housing and seafood markets, 打开的, 成功的餐馆, 经营一家爵士俱乐部, 在其他风险中. PSU’s Ryan Chadwick Entrepreneurship Scholarship in Business is his enduring commitment to assist students in financial need.
- 安东尼·奥格斯比05年, 谁有多年的开发经验, 市场营销, and managing operations of Planet Fitness health clubs, which he joined in its infancy and went on to develop the highly successful brand and model. He helped set up the Tap Out Fitness Franchise company, 然后开始了All Out Fitness的概念. He also contributes as a member of the PSU President’s Council, a volunteer advisory group that provides leadership and support regarding development and fundraising.
- Angela Watts ’05, whose firm Slyde Handboards was a big winner on the actual 鲨鱼坦克 程序. Her compelling presentation skills impressed the likes of Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher and secured major funding for her water sports firm.
安东尼·奥格斯比05年 
Ryan Chadwick ' 00对观众讲话 
黑豹球场评委听取学生的提案
The 黑豹球场 is a key component of Plymouth’s State entrepreneurial ecosystem, 还有创行, the University’s entrepreneurship courses for both business and non-business majors, 持续的课程创新, 大学makerspaces, 以及社交活动. Plymouth State is unquestionably an energetic launchpad for the next generation of change agents.
“I am very proud of our students and so grateful to all our alumni, 赞助商, 合作伙伴, 法官, 以及促成这次活动的导师们,Bonnie Bechard教授说. “The 黑豹球场 is building future leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship, and I can’t wait to see the impact our students will have on the community and organizations they go on to work for in the future.”